Surrs celebrate 70th wedding anniversary

Mr. and Mrs. William “Gus” Surr of 207 E. Dakota St., Spring Valley, celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary with a family dinner on Dec. 9 at Verucchi’s Ristorante in Spring Valley.

William Surr and the former Lena Baracani were married Dec. 5, 1942, in St. Anthony’s Church in Spring Valley by the Rev. Nicholas Blanc, now deceased. Their attendants were Kenneth Surr, brother of the groom, and Rose Driver, sister of the bride, both now deceased.

They are the parents of eight children, Nancy (Lee) Andreoni, Patricia (Bill) Turczyn, Linda Vecchia and Luke Surr, all of Spring Valley, Rose Battaglia of LaSalle, Mary (Dennis) Armata of Peru, Laura (Mike) Petrinec of Bloomington and Leanne (Mark) Kuhn of Forsyth. Two sons, William Joseph and John William, died in infancy. They also have 21 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-granchildren.

Before retirement, William was employed at Westclox in Peru for 48 years and then at Bassicks in Spring Valley for eight years. He served as a Spring Valley alderman for 28 years. He was also a Bureau County Red Cross member, having served as a bloodmobile chairman for 25 years. He is presently a member of the American Legion and is a veteran of World War II.

Lena is a homemaker and a member of the Maria Society of Immaculate Conception Church. In the past she served as an election judge.